Thread: knock sensor help

I have a 96 200sx se-r don't know if its high or low port. I tried to replace the knock sensor and what a pain in my @$$. I tried to get it out with the black pipe (coolant or a brase not sure) still on and I just can't get a wrench to stay on. So I asume I have to remove the pipe? Or is there and easier way buy relocating the sensor, or by simply unplug the old and plugin the new one and zip tie it out of the way.

Thanks guys!

The only few knock sensors I've ever had to remove seem like they were torqued down by the god Thor himself. The torque amount called for in the FSM is something quite light, like 22 ft·lbs or so. I have no idea why they are always so hard to remove. Here are some important things to note.

No, you can't relocate the sensor and have it work properly.
No, for sure you can't zip tie it way somewhere and expect it to work at all.
Yes, you must follow the torque specs in the FSM otherwise don't expect it to work properly.

Do whatever you have to to get a good grip on that bolt. You might have to employ some large vice-grips if you've rounded off the bolt. Try a 6-point socket with a breaker bar if you can.

Its a lowport, and yea what Ben said. I know some people have taken the intake manifold off to gain access to the knock sensor. its no easy task with the motor in the car.

the biggest prob is that I only have a 1/2 to 3/4 in gap between the bolt and the black pipe. anyone know what the pipe is and how hard that is to get off

Get a 12mm box-end wrench on it, and then use the cheater wrench trick to get leverage. No need to remove things.
Although if you haven't removed the intake manifold supports and thrown them in the trash yet, you should do that.

From the pics I seem s that they are trying from the top (or is this a diff app being used as an example). I was trying to get to it from the bottom. And what Intake supports are you refering too.

I would go at it from the bottom as well. There are chromium-plated supports on the left and right side of the intake manifold. It may be in the shape of a "V" and mount to the block down low below the starter.

This was one of the first things I ever did to my 96 se-r. It is a complete pita. I had the car up over the oil change bay at my uncles shop, there is no way you will get it from laying on the ground. There is a big metal brace that goes from the intake manifold to the bottom of the block, remove it completely (I didn't put it back on as it's just dead weight). Once that is off, it is a bit easier but still a pita. To get the brace off you have to first remove a few clips that hold some parts of the wire harness in place, then two big (14mm iirc) bolts at the bottom, then remove your intake piping and you can get to all the bolts that hold it to the back of the intake manifold.

Ya know what ben...when I bought my nx...a knock sensor was wired to the ecu,wired up and wrapped with like a baby sock or some shit...never really thought it would or could hurt anything,and its actually ran quite well like this....

Yesterday I noticed the damn sensor was gone!! Nothing connected....i know since I just port matched my intake manifold and cleaned it all up that an orig knock sensor was still there....so this morning I connected it and test drove for a while and the car feels REALY differnt....smoother I guess maybe a lil slower? And it runs richer to redline to 10.1 vs the usual 12.7 ish.....

And I could not get that bitch off there either when the manifold was odff